Daisy Ridley Says She Is Done With ‘Star Wars’ After Episode IX

When Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 and began plans to continue the epic Star Wars saga, they did so through the eyes of a handful of new characters. Now, one of the series’ new stars says she will be happy to leave the franchise behind after the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the untitled Episode IX.

In a new interview, actress Daisy Ridley, who plays the mysterious Rey in the new trilogy, is asked whether she’d return to the role again.

Ridley responds with a flat “no,” saying she didn’t realize what an enormous undertaking she had signed up for and then praising the cast and crew.

When the interviewer presses the issue, citing her praise of the working environment, Ridley is even more adamant about leaving the franchise behind.

“No, no, no,” she says. “I am really, really excited to do the third thing and round it out, because ultimately, what I was signing on to was three films.”

Later, in the same interview, director J.J. Abrams reveals that Episode IX will be the end of the Skywalker family saga that has been at the heart of the franchise.

That makes sense, considering the recent news that Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson will be creating a brand-new trilogy that doesn’t focus on the Skywalkers.

In addition, Lucasfilm has announced a new live-action Star Wars television series is in the works for Disney’s upcoming streaming platform.

With the franchise moving in a different direction, it stands to reason that Ridley may not be asked to return as Rey in future films anyway.

Advertisement

Then again, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher likely thought they were done with Star Wars when Return of the Jedi was released in 1983, so who knows what the future may hold? Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15, 2017, followed by Episode IX two years later on December 20, 2019.